For the past three years, Seilkop, who worked for the Miami post office for 30 years, has come out of retirement to help the city`s senior citizens take care of daily errands.

For the years, the city has used a $5,000 matching grant from the state`s Community Service Trust Fund to help pay for the senior chauffeur service, which regularly drives about 40 elderly women to and from grocery stores, banks and doctor`s offices.

``We just couldn`t get along without him and we are very grateful,`` said Helen Bohlert, who used a bus to get to the store before the city offered the transportation service. ``On a scale of one to 10, he gets a 10 1/2. He will do anything for anybody.``

On July 8, City Council gave Ken Richardson, director of parks and recreation, permission to apply for another matching grant to continue the program. The state pays for Seilkop`s services while the city supplies the van, its maintenance and fuel.

``With him, it has been heaven around here,`` Richardson said. ``He fits right in with the seniors. He can relate to them.``

Seilkop said he took the job -- at first for just three days a week -- out of boredom. For $4.25 an hour, it seemed to him like easy work.

``I wanted something to do,`` he said. ``If I don`t have something to do, I climb the walls.``

He says he is no longer bored, and the job has since become a four-day-a-week position.

``I meet a lot of people,`` he said. ``I listen to all of their troubles and try to help. I delivered mail for 30 years and now I am delivering people. I hope I can do this for another 30 years.``

The service is free to elderly residents. They must schedule appointments with the Parks and Recreation Department two days in advance.

After that, Seilkop takes over. City officials said he goes beyond the call of duty to take care of his charges. He drives them around, but also carries their groceries into their homes. Sometimes, he helps them unload packages. He`s a friend, too.

``He`s good to us,`` said Mary Dempsey. ``I would have to depend on the neighbors if he wasn`t there.``

Each senior has a regular shopping day. Tuesdays are usually set aside for doctor appointments. But often, they forget about their appointments, so Seilkop keeps an appontment list in the van so he can provide reminders.

``I guess you could say we are like family,`` he said, ``And they appreciate getting out.``